The Boston Globe 
Ad on Challenger disaster creates an uproar in N.H.
>        
>        MANCHESTER, N.H. - Patrick J. Buchanan came under sharp criticism
>        yesterday for running a television ad that includes footage of the
>        space shuttle Challenger explosion 10 years ago, which killed
>        seven people, including New Hampshire schoolteacher Christa
>        McAuliffe.
>        
>        Michael Garrett, a friend of McAuliffe's who is assistant
>        principal at Concord High School, said yesterday that he was
>        shocked and saddened that Buchanan would continually air a
>        commercial that shows the fiery moment in which the Concord
>        science teacher and her six fellow astronauts were killed.
>        
>        ``If Mr. Buchanan had a shred of sensitivity to the pain of the
>        Challenger explosion in New Hampshire, he would know better than
>        to use it to tout his personal ambitions,'' said Garrett, who is
>        coordinating a commemoration of McAuliffe to be held later this
>        month.
>        
>        Buchanan, who is well-known for aggressive television advertising,
>        began running the ad in New Hampshire this week in what a
>        spokesman called a ``full buy'' of air time.
>        
>        Peter Robbio, executive director of Buchanan's New Hampshire
>        campaign, said the campaign was aware McAuliffe was from New
>        Hampshire and aboard the Challenger.
>        
>        ``We tried to pick defining moments'' of when Buchanan was with
>        President Reagan, Robbio said. The ad shows video of the
>        Challenger explosion, followed by a photo ``of when Buchanan was
>        at the side of the president when they were informed of the
>        shuttle disaster. It was a memorable moment,'' Robbio explained.
>        Another spokesman said Buchanan had informed Reagan of the
>        disaster.
>        
>        A Buchanan spokesman, Michael Biundo, said he has received only
>        favorable comments on the ads.
>        
>        ``This was in no way trying to dredge anything up for the
>        McAuliffe family,'' Biundo said. Buchanan would not comment.
>        
>        Buchanan's rivals in the campaign also criticized the ad.
>        
>        ``I just find it offensive that they would take that tragedy and
>        inject it into the presidential campaign,'' said Tom Rath,
>        chairman of the Lamar Alexander campaign and a friend of the
>        McAuliffe family.
>        
>        Rath said the memory McAuliffe's death is ingrained in the psyche
>        of many New Hampshire citizens, especially as the 10th anniversary
>        approaches on Jan. 28.
>        
>        ``I don't understand the concept of using one of the most tragic
>        events in our state's history in a political commercial,'' said
>        Jim Courtovich, manager of Sen. Phil Gramm's New Hampshire
>        campaign. ``How could you not realize it just brings back so many
>        bad memories. Personally, I just don't see its purpose in a paid
>        political advertisement.''
>        
>        Buchanan uses the footage to underscore the fact that he served
>        with Reagan in times of ``triumph and tragedy.'' Reagan was
>        president when the Challenger exploded. The ad, titled ``Adviser
>        2,'' says Buchanan ``served the two most important presidents of
>        our time,'' Richard M. Nixon and Reagan. Buchanan was a
>        speechwriter for Nixon and communications director for Reagan.
>        
>        One of Reagan's best-received speeches was the one he gave after
>        the Challenger explosion. However, that speech was written by
>        Peggy Noonan, not Buchanan. Asked about Buchanan's role, Robbio
>        said Buchanan oversaw the development of the speech and was
>        ``ultimately responsible.''
>        
>        McAuliffe, a teacher at Concord High School, was chosen after a
>        nationwide search to be a member of the seven-member Challenger
>        crew. She had planned to teach lessons from space. Her memory is
>        the subject of numerous commemorations in New Hampshire this
>        month, including lectures at Concord High and seminars at the
>        McAuliffe Planetarium in Concord.
>        
>        A spokesman for the planetarium declined to comment on the ad but
>        said the institution would prefer to focus on McAuliffe's ``living
>        memory ... her educational mission in astronomy and space
>        sciences.''
>        
>        This story ran on page 23 of the Boston Globe on 01/11/96.